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Background

The consultation was held on behalf of the Inter-agency Task Team (IATT) on Prevention of HIV infections in pregnant women, mothers and their infants.

Overview

Researchers, programme implementers, infant feeding experts, representatives of the Inter-Agency Task Team on prevention of HIV infections in pregnant women, mothers and their children, UN agencies, the WHO Regional Office for Africa and six WHO headquarters departments gathered in Geneva from October 25-27. They met to review the substantial body of new evidence and experience regarding HIV and infant feeding that has been accumulating since a previous technical consultation in October 2000, and since the Glion and Abuja calls to action on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

The aim was to establish whether it was possible to clarify and refine the existing UN guidance, which was based on the recommendations from the technical consultation in October 2000. After three days of technical and programmatic presentations and intensive discussion, the group endorsed the general principles underpinning the existing recommendations and, based on the new evidence and experience presented, reached consensus regarding a range of issues and their implications.

This statement summarizes the information considered, and lists the recommendations from the consultation, which should be considered along with the October 2000 recommendations. A full report of the meeting and a technical update are in preparation.